The morning light was harsh against the icy walls of the Rust Quarter, but the warmth inside the shelter was a stark contrast to the cold world outside. The fire had been rekindled by Elara before dawn, and its flickering light gave the room a faint glow as the group stirred from sleep.
Alex was already awake, though he hadn't moved from where he lay, still nestled between Serena and Nia. He hadn't slept well, his mind too active with the plans they had begun to set in motion. The Elite District. The thought hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over everything else. The risks, the unknowns, the fragile alliances—they weighed on him more than he wanted to admit.
He glanced down at Serena, who was still asleep, her face relaxed, her breathing steady. Despite the turmoil within him, he felt a strange sense of calm seeing her so peaceful, her body pressed close against his. On the other side, Nia had curled up further into his side during the night, seeking warmth in the same protective cocoon they had formed the night before.
It was a temporary peace, he reminded himself. This moment wouldn't last. He knew it was only a matter of time before they would be thrown into the chaos of their plan to approach the Elite District. But for now, he let himself enjoy the closeness, the warmth of family—his family.
Eventually, he carefully shifted out from between Serena and Nia, making sure not to disturb them as he rose from the makeshift bed. He needed to clear his head, to focus. Today was going to be critical. Elara would be reaching out to her contact, and they needed to be ready for whatever information came back. Whether it was a way in or a warning to stay away, they couldn't afford any missteps.
Alex moved toward the door, the cold air brushing his skin as he pushed it open and stepped outside into the biting morning chill. The streets were quieter than usual, the snow falling gently, muffling the world around him. It was a strange contrast to the tension that had settled in his chest.
The Rust Quarter, despite its decrepit state, still had a kind of beauty in the morning light. The buildings, though crumbling, had an ancient majesty to them, their snow-covered surfaces gleaming under the weak sunlight. But beneath that beauty was danger—survival here was never guaranteed.
Alex breathed in the cold air, letting it clear his mind. He needed to be sharp today. They were about to step into a world of elites—people who had everything, hidden behind walls that protected them from the realities of the frozen wasteland beyond. They would want something from Alex, and if he wasn't careful, they'd take more than just the suit.
But we're not going in unprepared, he reminded himself. We're bringing something valuable, something they need.
The survival suits, with their energy-generating turbines, were the key. The elites might have wealth and technology, but no one had solved the problem of surviving in the cold as well as Alex had. The suits could keep someone alive in even the most brutal storms. If the elites wanted that edge, they'd have to deal with him.
But there was still so much they didn't know.
Back inside the shelter, Elara was already awake and sharpening one of her blades by the fire. Her movements were precise, methodical. She was always preparing, always focused on the next challenge. When Alex entered, she didn't look up, but her sharp voice cut through the quiet.
"We need to be ready by noon. My contact is expecting word by then," she said, the rhythm of her sharpening never faltering.
Alex nodded, moving to sit by the fire. He stretched his stiff muscles, his mind still swirling with thoughts of what lay ahead. "What do we know about this guy? Can we trust him?"
Elara finally looked up, her dark eyes locking onto his. "He's no saint, if that's what you're asking. He's a trader, and like most people out here, he's looking for a way to survive. But he's got connections inside the Elite District. If anyone can get us close to them, it's him."
Alex ran a hand through his hair, weighing her words. He had dealt with traders before, and they were rarely trustworthy. But they didn't have much of a choice. "What's his price?"
"He hasn't said yet," Elara replied, setting her blade down. "But he'll want something valuable. If we play it right, we can use the suits as leverage."
Alex's gut twisted at the thought. It wasn't just the suits that worried him; it was the fact that they would be stepping into a world controlled by people who wouldn't hesitate to take what they wanted. The suits were the key to survival out here, but in the wrong hands, they could become a tool for control. And once the elites had their hands on them, there was no telling what they'd do.
"We need to be careful," Alex said, his voice low but firm. "If the elites see how valuable these suits are, they'll try to take them."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "That's why we don't show our full hand. We give them just enough to get in. Once we're inside, we find out what they really want and negotiate from a position of strength."
Alex appreciated her pragmatism. Elara was always thinking ahead, always planning for the worst. It was what made her so valuable to the group, and it was what kept them alive for as long as they had been out here. But even Elara couldn't predict what the elites would do once they knew what Alex was capable of.
"Alright," Alex said, his mind made up. "We'll follow your lead. But if things go south, we need a way out. I'm not putting the group at risk just to get inside."
Elara gave a curt nod. "Agreed."
The rest of the morning was spent in tense preparation. Alex checked and rechecked the suits, ensuring that every component was functioning perfectly. The turbines hummed softly as they spun in the slight breeze coming through the shelter's cracked windows, generating power that fed into the suits' internal cells. The modular attachments had been adjusted to accommodate different needs—extra storage for scavenging, reinforced plating for protection, and even a stealth mode that dampened the sound of their movements.
Elara went over the plan with him again and again, making sure every detail was accounted for. Serena and Nia kept to themselves for the most part, Serena's eyes following Alex whenever he moved. There was a quiet tension in her now, a fear that lingered from their conversation the night before. She didn't want to be left behind, and Alex had promised her they would stick together. But the reality of what they were about to do weighed heavily on both of them.
As the noon hour approached, the group gathered their supplies and donned the suits. Alex's suit, the most advanced of them all, fit him like a second skin, its lightweight design allowing him to move freely despite the layers of protection it provided. Serena's suit had been adjusted for warmth, the turbines on her back generating just enough power to keep her safe from the cold, while Nia's smaller suit had been designed to be even more efficient.
Elara, ever the warrior, had reinforced her suit with extra plating and weapon attachments. She carried her blades with a confidence that spoke of years of experience, her sharp gaze never missing a detail as they prepared to leave.
"We move fast and stay together," Elara instructed, her voice steady as she looked over the group. "We don't engage unless we have to. This is about getting inside and finding out what we're up against."
Alex nodded, pulling the hood of his suit up to protect against the biting cold outside. "Let's get this over with."
The journey to the meeting point was uneventful, though the weight of what they were about to do hung heavily over them. The Rust Quarter was as unforgiving as ever, the cold wind cutting through the streets and the ever-present snowstorm swirling around them. But their suits kept them warm, their movements unhindered by the elements.
As they approached the edge of the district, the buildings grew taller, their decaying forms standing as silent sentinels over the frozen wasteland. This part of the Rust Quarter was even more dangerous than the rest, closer to the walls that separated the elite from the scavengers. It was here that the trader Elara had mentioned was waiting.
They spotted him before he saw them. A tall man with a weathered face and a thick coat stood near the remnants of an old marketplace, his eyes scanning the horizon. He was flanked by two guards, both heavily armed, their faces hidden behind crude masks.
Elara signaled for them to stop, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "That's him," she said quietly. "Stay sharp."
Alex took a deep breath, his hand resting on the side of his suit, where the controls for the turbines were located. They had to make this work. The future of their group depended on it.
Elara stepped forward first, her posture calm but ready for anything. Alex followed close behind, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for.
The trader's eyes flicked over them as they approached, taking in their suits with obvious interest. A slow smile spread across his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Well," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "Looks like you've got something valuable there."
Elara didn't hesitate. "We have something you need. But we're not here to hand it over. We're here to talk."
The trader's smile widened. "Oh, I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."